Illuminated display or advertising device



Oct. 1, 1963 G. E. SNETHEN 3,105,315

ILLUMINATED DISPLAY 0R ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed Nov. 14, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

ENTOR George E. Sue/hen BY awmum ATTORNEY 0 t. 1', 1963 I G. E. SNETHENILLUMINATED DISPLAY OR ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed Nov. 14, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY George ef/ren ilnited rates Fascist 3,195,315ILLUB'IINATED DISPLAY GR ADVERTISIIJG DEVICE George .s. Snethen, P). Box95, Suiphnr, @hia. Fiied Nov. 14, 196i Ser. No. 69,115 1 Qatar. (Ci. 4e77) The present invention relates to display and advertising devices.

An object of the invention is to provide an illuminated display oradvertising device for outdoor use in towns and the like and capable ofsupporting a large number of cards or advertisements in readily viewablepositions, adequately illuminated and protected from the elements.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an advertisingdevice or post which is manually revolvable upon its support standard,so that a prospective customer may conveniently view all of theadvertisements carried by the device while standing in one position.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a device of theabove-mentioned character means for supporting a multiplicity ofadvertisements or the like which may be written or printed upon standardsize government post cards.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an outdooradvertising apparatus of simplified design, economical to manufacture,sturdy and durable, very easy to maintain, and readily movable fromplace-to-place when desired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an advertisingdevice of the above-mentioned character which may be rolled upon itsside.

Another object is to provide novel and simplified door or closure meansfor a device of the mentioned character.

Gther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an advertising and display deviceaccording to the invention,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged central vertical section taken on line 2-2 ofFIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE1,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 4-4of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 5-5of FIGURE 1,

IGURE 6 is a similar section taken on line 66 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of hinged closure or door means removed,

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 38 of FIGURE 2.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 14} designates acircular base formed of molded concrete or the like and provided uponits periphery with a metal band or tire 11, suitably rigidly securedthereto. Permanently anchored to the base 10 centrally is a shortupstanding sleeve 12 having anchoring means 13 embedded within theconcrete base 19 as shown in FIGURE 2. The upstanding sleeve 12 receiveswithin it telescopically and detachably a relatively long verticaltubular post or standard 14 which may conveniently comprise a section ofpipe of the desired length. The lower end of the tubular post 14 issecured rigidly within the sleeve 12 by through bolt means :15, asshown.

A preferably hexagonal display housing structure 16 is mounted rotatablyupon the upper portion of the vertical post 14 as shown in the drawings.This housing structure ice 15 comprises preferably six integrally joinedvertical side wall portions 17 of equal area, each being rectangular andvertically elongated. A bottom horizontal hexagonal wall 18 for thehousing structure is provided, and secured by welding or the like to thelower edges of the side wall portions 17. The hexagonal bottom wall 18preferably has its margin projecting slightly outwardly of the side wallsections 17, as shown at 19 in FIGURE 2. A top circular horizontal wall2%) for the housing structure '16 is provided, and rigidly secured bywelding or the like at 21 to the tops of side wall portions 17. Thecircular margin of the top wall 29 extends radially beyond the side wallportions 17 for a considerable distance to form overhanging annulareaves 22 about the top of the hexagonal housing structure.

The top and bottom walls 26) and 13 of the housing structure are mountedrotatably upon the vertical post 14 by central axially aligned sleeveextensions or bearings 23 and 24, projecting upwardly and downwardlyrespectively from the walls 26 and 18. The sleeve extensions 23 and 24are rigidly secured to the walls 26 and 18 by welding or the like.

Below the sleeve extension 24 and slidably abutting the same is a shortsleeve 2.5,serving as a thrust bearing and secured rigidly to the post14, as by a through bolt 25. The sleeve 25 is adapted to support thefull weight of the housing structure 16- transmitted through the lowersleeve or bearing 24. Rigidly secured to the fixed sleeve 25 are radialcircumferentially spaced vertical gussets 27, carrying at their outerend portions a horizontal annular fiat ring 23, rigid therewith, asshown. The outside diameter of the horizontal ring 28 is preferablyequal to the outside diameter of the base It) to facilitate rolling theadvertising device without damaging it, when the same is laid upon itsside. The ring 28 also serves as a convenient table for writingadvertisement cards or the like which are to be placed in the cardholding means of the advertising device. The ring .28 may also begrasped to facilitate rolling the device in an inclined position uponthe band or tire 11. The inside diameter of the ring 28 preferablycoincides with the width of the housing structure 16 across corners, asbest indicated in FIGURE 1.

With continued reference to the drawings, and FIG- URES 4 through 6 inparticular, each rectangular side wall portion 17 or panel of thehexagonal housing structure 16 carries upon its outer face a pluralityof horizontal equidistantly vertically spaced card holding channels 2%,adapted to receive and hold a plurality of relatively smalladvertisement cards 30 or the like in each one thereof. Each cardholding channel 29 of each side wall portion 17, FIGURE 4, is spacedslightly forwardly of the side wall portion 17 by a spacer strip 31,suitably rigidly secured to the outer face of side wall portion 17 andto the rear face of the adjacent channel 29. By virtue of thisarrangement, upper and lower horizontal grooves 32 and 33 are providedadjacent the top and bottom of each channel 29, and between the back ofthe channel and the side wall portion 17. The vertical spacing of thechannels 29 is such, FIGURE 4, that a plurality of advertisement cards34 or the like, such as standard size government post cards, may beplaced upon the forward face of side wall portion 17 with their upperand lower edges engaged in the grooves 32 and 33 of adjacent verticallyspaced channels 29.

It may now be understood that by virtue of the arrangementabove-described in connection with FIGURE 4, a large number of small andlarge advertising cards or the like may be mounted upon the outer faceof each side wall portion 17 of the hexagonal rotatable housingstructure 16. A plurality of the smaller cards 30 are insertab le withineach channel 2h, and a plurality of the larger cards are correspondinglyinsertable within the grooves 32 and 33 afforded by the lower and upperedge portions of each adjacent pair of the channels 29 upon theparticular side wall portion 17. Consequently, as many as 1% or moreadvertisement cards or the like may be displayed at one time upon thesix panels of the hexagonal housing structure 16.

it may be mentioned here that material other than advertising materialmay be displayed by the device if desired; Picture cards, publicnotices, political material and the like may be displayed with facilityby the device. If desired, one panel 17 or a portion thereof may bereserved for cards or strips stating the location of other advertisingdevices according to the invention throughout a city or territory. Anydesired reading material whatsoever may be displayed by. the device, asshould be obvious.

Transparent weather-tight closure means for the exterior of thehexagonal housing structure 16 is provided. Such means comprises a paironly of three sided identical doors 35 and 36, which together in closedrelation, P G- URE 1, constitute a hexagonal weather-proof sideenclosure for the housing structure 16. As shown in the drawings, eachdoor 35 and 36 comprises three rigidly connected angulariy disposedvertically elongated rectangular panels of equal area, each bounded by arectangular frame 37. Within each frame 37 is a transparent panel 38 ofglass, plexiglass, or some other suitable transparent plastics material.As shown in FIGURES and 6, each frame 37 is grooved at 39 to receive andanchor the marginal edge portions of the transparent panel 38. Theframes 37 of adjacent panels of each door 35 and 36 are rigidlyinterconnected in any suitable manner.

Corresponding edges of the doors 35 and 36 carry interfitting hingeknuckles 49, receiving therethrough a long vertical pintle 41, havingits upper and lower ends 42 and 43 anchored within openings formedthrough the top wall 24) and bottom wall 18 as best shown in FIG- URE 2.The assemblage of hinge knuckles 4t} constitutes a long verticalpiano-type hinge for the pair of horizontally swingable three sideddoors 35 and 36. The vertical edges of the doors 35 and 36 remote fromthe hinge structure carry suitable apertured l-ug means 44 to facilitatesecuring the doors in closed positions as by bolt means 45. Theapertured lugs 44 may also receive a padlock or the like if desired.When the doors are fully closed, FIGURE 1, they directly overlie andcompletely enclose the side wall portions 17 of the housing structure 16and protect the same and the advertising cards carried thereby from theelements. The inner faces of the frames 37 may substantially abut orcontact the outer faces of the channels 29 when the doors are closed asindicated in FIGURES 5 land 6. The transparent panels 38 are spacedslightly from the channels 29 as indicated in FIG- URES 5 and 6 when thedoors are closed. The upper and lower edges of the doors 35 and 36 fitsnugly against the top wall 29 and bottom wall 18 as best shown inFEGURE 2. The marginal edge of the bottom wall 18 coincides with or isflush with the outer faces of the doors 3'5 and 35.

As shown in the drawings, the frames 37 of the doors are provided nearthe vertical center of the housing structure =16 with handles 46 rigidtherewith to facilitate revolving the housing structure 16 upon thevertical post 14 and to aid if desired in manipulating the doors.

With continued reference to the drawings, the circular top wall ofhousing structure 16 carries an upturned marginal flange 47 integraltherewith, receiving telescopically and detachably thereover apreferably conically tapered roof 4% having a downturned annular flange49 engaging outwardly of the flange 47 and detachably rigidly securedthereto at 50. The pitched roof 48 will of course shed water and theoverhanging eaves 22 serve to further protect the panels 38 from theelements. The

4.- roof 48 has a top central opening defined by a short upstandingannular sleeve 51, receiving telescopically over it a transparent ortranslucent preferably spherically shaped globe 52, which may be coloredif preferred. Set screw means 53 are provided as shown, for detachablysecuring the globe 52 rigidly to the roof 43.

Freferably three horizontal circumferentially equidistantly spaced arms54 extend radially from the top of the post is and are rigidly securedthereto in any suitable manner. The outer recessed end portions 55 ofthese arms 54 are adapted to support a large annular fluorescent light56 or the like, beneath the roof 4% and in substantial verticalalignment with the side wall portions 17. The flight 55 is powered by awire 57 which may conveniently extend through the tubular post 14 andout through a small opening 58 formed therein somewhere between the base19 and the bottom of the housing structure. The wire 57 may extend toany convenient electrical outlet, not shown.

immediately below the annular fluorescent light tube 56, the housingstructure top wall 2t} is provided adjacent each vertical wall portion17 with an elongated rectangular opening 59, FIGURE 8, to facilitateilluminating the adjacent side wall portion 17 with light emitted fromthe annular tube 55. Light from the tube 56 will also serve toilluminate the globe 52. The openings 59 are disposed just outwardly ofthe side wall portion 17 as shown in FIGURE 8 to illuminate the outerfaces of the same and the advertising cards carried thereby.

In the light of the foregoing description, the operation or use of thedevice, its maintenance, portability, erection and dismantling should bequite obvious to anyone skilled in the art, and no further descriptionis deemed to be necessary. The device is capable of serving a widevariety of uses for displaying various types of material, although it iscontemplated to employ the device primarily for selling and advertisingin small towns adjacent to rural areas and the like.

As should now be obvious, during the use of the apparatus, the housingstructure 16 and all parts associated therewith including the roofstructure may rotate upon the post 14 which is stationary. The lighttube 56 also remains stationary as does the ring 28.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scopeof the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A display or advertising apparatus capable of exhibiting a large numberof separate advertising cards comprising a weighted broad substantiallyfiat faced base member to rest upon the ground, an upright tubular postof substantial height anchored to and extending above the base member,an annular horizontal table member secured rigidly to the postintermediate its ends and spaced a substantial distance above the basemember and having a central sleeve part surrounding the post snugly andfixed thereto to form a thrust bearing on said post, a verticallyelongated hollow closed housing which is substantially hexagonal incross section and having top and bottom Walls and equally sizedrectangular side wall portions, axially aligned sleeve elements securedto the top and bottom walls of the housing and projecting above andbelow the same respectively and receiving the upper portion of the posttelescopically and rotatably, said lower sleeve clement slidablyengaging the top of said central sleeve part and resting upon the same,said sleeve part bearing the weight of said housing, said housing havinga horizontal width across corners approximating the internal diameter ofthe annular table member, said table member extending radially outwardlyof the housing near and below the bottom wall thereof, each rectangularside wall portion of said housing having mounted on the outer facethereof a plurality of equidistantly vertically spaced thin horizontalchannel members of relatively shallow height each adapted to slidablyreceive a plurality of small display cards in end-to-end horizontallyextending relation, spacer rneans intermediate each channel member andside wall portion forming with the back wall of each channel memher andthe adjacent side wall portion grooves which extend horizontally at thetop and bottom of each channel member and inwardly thereor" for thereception of bottom and top edges respectively of additional displaycards on the outer face of each side Wall portion, the verticaldistances between said channel members being considerably greater thanthe height of each channel member, whereby said additional display cardsmay be substantially larger in height than the cards exhibited by thechannel members and a multiplicity of relatively large and relativelysmall display cards may be exhibited upon each side wall portion of thehousing in vertically alternating relation, a pair only of three-sidedhorizontally swingable door frames hingedly secured at correspondingvertical edges to said top and bottom walls of the housing on a singlevertical hinge pin anchored within openings of said top and bottom wallsat a vertical corner of the housing, transparent panels on said doorframes which are substantially coextensive in area with the housing sideWall portions and covering the same in a weather-tight manner tocompletely enclose the side wall portions when the door frames areclosed about the same, a hollow pitched roof member mounted upon the topwall of the housing and spaced thereabove and having a top translucentglobe portion and being rotatable with the housing upon said post, anannular horizontal light tube disposed under the roof member and betweenthe roof member and said top Wall and being enclosed and being of adiameter so that the margin of the light tube is near and above theexterior faces of the side wall portions, said top Wall of the housinghaving a plurality of circumferentially equidistantly spaced elongatedslots formed therethrough below the light tube and in substantialalignment with the outer faces of the side wall portions to facilitateilluminating the same, radial horizontal support arm means for the lighttube secured to the top of the post above the uppermost sleeve elementand supporting the light tube in fixed relation to the post and to therotary housing and roof member, and a wire connected with the light tubeand extending into the open top of the tubular post and downwardlythough the bore thereof to a point below the housing and table memberand then exterior-1y of the post and adapted for connection with anexternal source of current, said post having a radial side opening belowthe table member for said Wire.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS256,296 Currier Apr. 11, 1382 796,937 Scheel Aug. 8, 1905 819,394Williams May 1, 1906 935,236 Saunders Sept. 28, 1909 1,356,276 GourleyOct. 19, 1920 1,475,041 Alstott Nov. 20, 1923 1,779,190 Send Oct. 21,1930 1,843,883 Pogue Feb. 2, 1932 1,362,375 Trostel June 7, 19322,068,323 Harrison et al. Jan. 19, 1937 2,194,238 Weaver Mar. 19, 19402,512,465 Moorhouse June 20, 1950 2,603,898 Patterson July 22, 19522,787,068 Anspach Apr. 2, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 907,012 Germany Mar. 18,1954

